Our favorite kid lawyer is back! Theodore Boone: The Activist, the fourth installment in John Grisham’s middle-grade series, doesn’t hit shelves for another three months, but fortunately we’ve got an exclusive look at the cover, as well as an excerpt from the book itself.

Thirteen-year-old Theo isn’t your regular teenager: He’s spent more time in the courtroom than out of it. Thankfully, Theo’s managed to clear his name after being falsely accused of vandalism and theft, but the excitement never ends for the young legal eagle. This time, he finds himself on the wrong end of a fight with the state over plans to build a bypass outside of his town of Strattenberg. Many, including the Governor himself, are in favor of the new bypass — but the construction threatens Theo’s friends, who will lose their family farm if the plans go through. Can Theo save the day? Check out the cover and exclusive excerpt below: